Trump Green Lights Long-Disputed Keystone XL Pipeline

United States President Donald Trump overturned former President Barack Obama's decision to suspend the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, according to a report from The New York Times. In reaching the decision, the Trump administration said it has studied several factors, including how the project would impact the United States' relationship with other countries, as well as how it would benefit the economy.

The Trump administration also said they looked into how the project would affect the environment. Environmentalists have been staging protests against the Keystone XL pipeline. They claim that the project would destroy the country's environment and would contribute to the global footprint.

Obama decided to throw out the project in 2015 as it would go against the United States' aim to slowly move away from using carbon fuels. Communities that will be negatively affected by the project are expected to stage protests against Trump's decision to green light it.

The decision was also signed by the under secretary of state for political affairs, Thomas A. Shannon Jr. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson decided not to participate in the decision-making process related to the project due to conflict of interest. Tillerson previously served as chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, an energy company that reportedly falsified reports on global warming.

In approving the Keystone XL pipeline, the Trump administration has signaled that it will prioritize economic development over environmental issues, Fortune reported. During his campaign for presidency, Trump has been known to deny global warming. At one point, the United States president even claimed that global warming is a Chinese propaganda. The Trump administration has made it clear that it will not spend resources on climate change.

In another energy-related news, Jobs & Hire previously reported that Dayton Power & Light has decided to shut down two coal-fired power plants.